Hormone Receptor Status of Breast Cancer in Young Women in Northern Region of India- A Study

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study is to compare the expression of prognostically meaningful immunohistochemical markers such as Oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), expression pattern in young (<35 years) female breast cancer patients as compared to > 35 years of age . In most studies published so far, this patients group has not being analyzed separately particularly with such large data from this part of India. Methods: This study is an observational study, which includes 1691 cases of breast cancer of which 269 were young females. In this study, patients were analysed on the basis hormone receptor expression, evaluated immunohistochemically. Results: In our study, young (<35 years) female breast cancer patients constituted 15.90 % of the total female breast cancer population. Overall Oestrogen Receptor (ER) positivity in female breast cancer cases is found to be higher in the age group above 35 years, however ER and PR positive set of expression is found to be equal in both group of population of breast cancer below and above 35 years of age. Conclusion: We conclude that female breast cancer cases from this northern region of India do show relatively higher percentage of young females of breast cancer as compared to world literature.